Los Angeles, CA - January 13, 2006 - In just the past few months, Hudson Group has invested $1.78 million to renovate two of its newsstands and bookstores at Los Angeles International Airport. As North America's leading transportation retailer, Hudson has committed its resources and expertise to provide the first modern and exciting state-of-the-art retail shops at LAX, the first to realize the airport's potential as a world-class shopping experience.
The company spent over $850,000 to renovate the Hudson News/Hudson Booksellers store in the airport's international arrivals (TBIT) terminal, and invested another $935,000 to upgrade its Hudson News store in Terminal 3.
"The new stores have been reengineered with both the customer's and the airport's needs in mind," notes Joseph DiDomizio, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Hudson Group. "From the customer's standpoint, they are beautifully appointed, well stocked, and easy to navigate. And in keeping with the airport's goals, they also exude a very strong sense of place. You definitely know that you are in Los Angeles when you see the beautiful photo murals of familiar LA scenes at the front of the stores."
Since taking over the U.S. airport operations of WH Smith in 2004, Hudson Group has undertaken a number of short-term enhancements to the functionality and merchandising of the former operator's facilities. In Los Angeles, the combination of improved customer service, merchandise selection and operation systems has resulted in a 28% overall increase in sales in the first year of operation.
The two new newsstands and bookstores have taken these enhancements to the next level by introducing Hudson's proprietary standards of design, custom fixturing, functionality and merchandising. The core focus of the Hudson News stores is the greater number of magazine titles (450-500) and book titles (3,000) offered for sale in each store. In the first month of operations, sales of these core components increased an additional 20% over their already robust sales levels.
The company has opened eight new airport stores in Los Angeles since 2004, including six newsstands. The two newest specialty retail stores are a Kids Works in Terminal 7, which specializes in imaginative toys, games and reading material for children, and a luggage store (named "Luggage" in six languages) to serve international travelers in TBIT.
About Hudson Group: Hudson Group is a privately held corporation that operates more than 450 premier specialty retail shops, newsstands and bookstores in 64 airports and transportation terminals throughout North America. The company's flagship concept, Hudson News, is North America's only national newsstand brand. Under the familiar blue sign can be found the most complete selection of magazines in the aviation industry, along with books, newspapers, and a wide variety of travelers' necessities, snacks and bottled soft drinks. Hudson Group specialty retail shops include such proprietary brands as Hudson Booksellers, Kids Works, Euro Cafe, $10/$15 Boutique, and more. Other national brands partnering with Hudson Group include Crabtree & Evelyn, Godiva Chocolatier, Roots, House of Blues and Quiznos.